Table of Contents

• Participate in large cultural moments
• Engage in TikTok trends
• Tap into the conversation of the season
• Use music to create relevance
• React to consumer insights gleaned from social
• Give consumers something they didn’t know they wanted

Participate in large cultural moments

These are moments that everyone is talking about. Many brands, like Shopify and Smile Direct Club, found creative and hilarious ways to incorporate Bernie and connect to the conversation that swept the internet.

The trick here is timing. What is even more important than engaging consumers, is that you strike at the right moment - and quickly. You don’t want to be the brand that activates the day or week after people have already moved on to the next big thing.

Engage in TikTok trends

Connecting to culture can be as easy as making a TikTok video. Did you know that 61% of TikTokers like brands better when they create or participate in a trend on TikTok?

TikTok has clearly taken off and it is an excellent barometer of what is happening in the world. Each week, new trends blaze through TikTok from dances to sounds to skits. Take the time to monitor the conversations people are having, and participate when it is relevant to your brand and its values. And don’t be afraid to get creative and take risks!

Tap into the conversation of the season

These topics may not be as widespread but typically trend for longer, so they pack a punch. NFTs are a great example. Brands have been making headlines and connecting with consumers through NFTs for the past few months, and the conversation is likely to continue through the rest of the year.

Use music to create relevance

Music has always held a place in culture. For brands, music used to predominantly mean jingles, which were designed to be catchy and jump out at you. At the time, it was extremely effective. Today, we’ve redesigned what it means to create branded music. It’s still catchy - but it also fits right into your customers’ playlists. That gives your brand an incredible cool factor.

React to consumer insights gleaned from social

Social media also holds a place in culture. As your team is looking at what is happening online (and offline too for that matter), you may see moments that relate to your brand. Follow along with what your customers are saying and play off of those conversations.

When a video went viral of a Southwest airlines customer checking a pool noodle as checked baggage, Southwest responded quickly. They greeted the customer on her return flight with dozens of agents waving Southwest-branded pool noodles. That led to many more viral videos. EOS is another great example of this.

Give consumers something they didn’t know they wanted

Steve Jobs once said: “Some people say, Give the customers what they want. But that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do. People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”

Building cultural relevance helps drive brand love, and ultimately sales. How will your brand enter the chat? Ready, set, go!